- OSHA
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration; created by the OSH Act of 1970 to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women.
- OSH Act of 1970
- The federal law that created OSHA; its central purpose is to assure safe and healthful working conditions by setting and enforcing standards.
- General Duty Clause
- Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, requiring employers to keep the workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious harm when no specific standard applies.
- NIOSH
- The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; a research agency (part of CDC) that studies hazards and recommends standards but does not enforce them.
- Right to know
- A worker's right to be informed about the hazards (especially chemical) in their workplace, through labels, Safety Data Sheets, and training.
- Imminent danger
- A hazard that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm immediately; OSHA's highest inspection priority.
- OSHA inspection priorities
- In order: imminent danger, fatalities and catastrophes, worker complaints and referrals, then programmed (targeted) inspections.
- Whistleblower protection
- OSHA protection that prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who file complaints or otherwise exercise their safety and health rights.
- Confidential complaint
- A worker's right to file a safety complaint with OSHA and request that their name not be revealed to the employer.
- OSHA poster
- The 'Job Safety and Health: It's the Law' poster that employers must display where workers can see it, summarizing rights and responsibilities.
- OSHA-approved State Plan
- A state-run occupational safety program that must be at least as effective as federal OSHA; covers private and state/local government workers.
- Citation
- A written notice OSHA issues after an inspection finds a violation; it describes the violation, any penalty, and an abatement (correction) date.
- Abatement
- The correction of a cited hazard by the deadline OSHA sets in the citation.
- Opening conference
- The start of an OSHA inspection where the compliance officer explains the reason for the inspection and its scope.
- Walkaround right
- The right of an employer representative and a worker representative to accompany the OSHA compliance officer during the inspection.
- On-Site Consultation Program
- A free, confidential OSHA service (separate from enforcement) that helps mainly small employers find and fix hazards without issuing citations.
- Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP)
- OSHA recognition for workplaces with exemplary safety and health management systems that go beyond compliance.
- Outreach Training Program
- OSHA's voluntary training (10- and 30-hour courses) that teaches hazard recognition and worker rights; it is education, not an enforcement action.
- OSHA 10 vs OSHA 30
- Both are Outreach courses; the 10-hour is entry-level awareness for workers, while the 30-hour is more in-depth for supervisors and those with safety responsibility.
- Employer responsibilities
- Provide a safe workplace, comply with standards, furnish required PPE (usually free), train workers in a language they understand, keep records, and post the OSHA poster.
- Employee responsibilities
- Follow the employer's safety rules and standards, use provided PPE properly, and report hazards and injuries; OSHA mainly cites employers, not workers.
- Recognized hazard
- A hazard the employer knows about or that is generally known in the industry; the basis for a General Duty Clause citation.
- Rulemaking
- The public process OSHA must follow to set a new standard, including publishing a proposal and allowing notice and public comment.
- Medical surveillance
- Employer-provided, exposure-related medical examinations required by certain OSHA standards, at no cost to the worker.
- Focus Four
- The four leading causes of construction deaths: falls, struck-by, caught-in/between, and electrocution.
- Falls (Focus Four)
- The single leading cause of construction deaths; controlled by guardrails, safety net systems, and personal fall arrest at 6 feet.
- Struck-by hazard
- Being hit by falling, flying, swinging, or rolling objects; controlled with toeboards, barricades, hard hats, and high-visibility clothing.
- Caught-in/between hazard
- Being caught, crushed, or pinched between objects, such as trench cave-ins or unguarded machinery; controlled with protective systems and guarding.
- Fall protection trigger (construction)
- Fall protection is required at 6 feet or more above a lower level in construction (29 CFR 1926.501).
- Fall protection trigger (general industry)
- Fall protection is required at 4 feet or more above a lower level in general industry (29 CFR 1910.28).
- Personal fall arrest system (PFAS)
- A system that stops a fall using a full-body harness, a shock-absorbing lanyard or self-retracting lifeline, and an anchorage.
- Shock-absorbing lanyard
- A deceleration device that extends to dissipate fall energy, reducing the arresting force transmitted to the worker's body.
- Anchorage (fall protection)
- The secure point a personal fall arrest system connects to; for fall arrest it must support at least 5,000 pounds per attached worker.
- Guardrail system
- A passive fall protection barrier with a top rail (~42 in ±3 in), a midrail, and a toeboard around open-sided floors and platforms.
- Top rail height
- The top rail of a standard guardrail is about 42 inches above the walking surface (plus or minus 3 inches) and must resist a 200-pound force.
- Toeboard
- The low barrier along the bottom of a guardrail that keeps tools, materials, and debris from falling off the edge onto people below.
- Safety net system
- Nets rigged beneath the work to catch a falling worker where guardrails and tie-off points are impractical, such as across open spans.
- Hole cover
- A secured, marked cover over a floor or roof opening that prevents falls through holes and struck-by hazards from objects falling through.
- Walking-working surfaces
- Floors, aisles, platforms, and similar surfaces; good housekeeping keeps them clean, dry, and clutter-free to prevent slips, trips, and falls.
- Housekeeping
- Keeping walkways clear of wet floors, spills, and loose clutter; the most direct control for slip, trip, and fall hazards.
- Slip, trip, and fall
- Common injuries caused by wet or cluttered walking surfaces; controlled through housekeeping, drainage, and good walking-surface maintenance.
- Scaffolding
- Temporary elevated work platforms that must be fully planked, capable of supporting their load, and protected against falls and falling objects.
- Electrocution
- Death from electrical contact with live wires, overhead power lines, or faulty equipment; one of the construction Focus Four hazards.
- GFCI
- A ground-fault circuit interrupter that shuts off power in a fraction of a second when it senses current leaking to ground through a person.
- Ground fault
- An unintended path of current to ground, such as through a worker's body; what a GFCI is designed to detect and interrupt.
- Grounding
- Providing a low-resistance path that carries fault current safely to ground so an equipment housing does not become energized and shock a worker.
- Equipment grounding conductor
- The wire (third prong) that bonds a tool's metal housing to ground so a fault trips the circuit instead of energizing the housing.
- Arc flash
- The explosive release of heat and energy from an electrical fault between conductors; guarded against with approach boundaries and arc-rated PPE.
- Approach boundary
- A defined distance around energized electrical parts that limits how close unprotected and qualified workers may get.
- Overhead power lines
- A major electrocution hazard; workers and equipment must maintain a safe clearance distance from energized lines.
- Assured equipment grounding conductor program
- An OSHA-allowed alternative to GFCI protection that requires regular inspection and testing of cords and equipment grounding on construction sites.
- Qualified person (electrical)
- A worker trained and knowledgeable in the construction and operation of electrical equipment and the hazards involved.
- PPE
- Personal protective equipment worn as a barrier between the worker and a hazard; the last line of defense in the hierarchy of controls.
- Hierarchy of controls
- Ranks hazard controls most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE.
- Elimination
- The most effective control — physically removing the hazard from the workplace entirely.
- Engineering controls
- Controls that isolate people from a hazard by physical means, such as guards, ventilation, GFCIs, and guardrails.
- Administrative controls
- Controls that change how people work — training, job rotation, safe-work procedures, and warning signs.
- Hazard assessment
- The employer's required first step before selecting PPE: surveying the job to determine what hazards are present and what protection is needed.
- PPE payment rule
- OSHA rule that the employer must generally provide required PPE at no cost to workers, with narrow exceptions like ordinary safety-toe footwear.
- Hard hat
- Head protection against impact and falling objects; certain classes also provide dielectric (electrical) protection.
- Safety glasses
- Eye protection against flying particles; side shields close the gap so particles cannot enter from the side.
- Side shields
- Add-ons to safety glasses that guard against flying particles entering the eye from the side rather than the front.
- Splash goggles
- Eye protection that forms a tight seal against the face to keep liquid chemical splashes out.
- Face shield
- Face protection worn over primary eye protection; alone it protects the face but does not seal the eyes.
- Welding helmet / shaded lens
- Eye and face protection with a proper shade filter that blocks the intense visible and ultraviolet light of welding.
- Hearing protection
- Earplugs or earmuffs worn above the noise action level; high noise can cause permanent, irreversible hearing loss.
- Respirator
- Respiratory protection that filters or supplies clean air; used when engineering controls cannot reduce airborne exposure enough.
- Respiratory protection program
- The written program required for respirator use, including medical evaluation, fit testing, training, and proper cleaning and storage.
- Fit testing
- A test that confirms a tight-fitting respirator seals properly to a worker's face so contaminated air cannot leak in around it.
- Cut-resistant gloves
- Hand protection whose material resists cutting; matched to hazards like handling sharp sheet metal.
- Chemical-resistant gloves
- Gloves made of a material that blocks a specific chemical from permeating and reaching the skin.
- Safety-toe boots
- Foot protection with a reinforced toe that shields against impact and compression from dropped or rolling loads.
- High-visibility vest
- Reflective, brightly colored PPE that makes workers more visible to drivers and equipment operators, especially in low light.
- PPE inspection
- Checking equipment before each use for damage, wear, or defects so unsafe gear (e.g., a frayed harness) is removed from service.
- Noise action level
- The exposure level at which an employer must begin a hearing conservation program and provide hearing protection.
- Dielectric hard hat
- A hard hat rated to resist conducting electricity to the head, required when working near energized parts.
- Hazard Communication Standard
- 29 CFR 1910.1200; gives workers the right to know about chemical hazards through a written program, labels, SDSs, and training.
- HazCom
- Short name for the Hazard Communication Standard, aligned with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS).
- Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
- The international system for classifying and labeling chemicals that OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard is aligned with.
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- A standardized 16-section document with detailed information on a hazardous chemical's hazards, handling, storage, and emergency measures.
- 16 SDS sections
- Every SDS follows the same 16-section order, so first-aid, firefighting, and other information appear in the same numbered section on any sheet.
- GHS pictogram
- A standardized red-diamond symbol on a chemical label that conveys a hazard at a glance; OSHA's HazCom requires eight of them.
- Signal word
- The word 'Danger' (more severe) or 'Warning' (less severe) on a GHS label indicating the relative level of hazard.
- Container label
- Required label on a hazardous chemical container with a product identifier, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, and pictograms.
- Secondary container labeling
- Workplace containers (like a spray bottle) must be labeled with the chemical's identity and hazards unless the immediate-use exemption applies.
- Immediate-use exemption
- A HazCom exception: a secondary container does not need a full label only if it stays under the control of, and is used up by, the worker who filled it that shift.
- Written hazard communication program
- An employer's required plan describing how labels, SDSs, and training are used to inform workers about chemical hazards.
- Oxidizer
- A chemical that can intensify a fire by supplying oxygen; shown by a flame-over-circle GHS pictogram.
- Exit route
- A continuous, unobstructed path to a place of safety; must be unlocked from the inside and adequately marked.
- Emergency action plan (EAP)
- A plan covering how to report emergencies, evacuation procedures and routes, and accounting for employees after evacuation.
- Fire prevention plan
- A plan that identifies fire hazards and controls fuel and ignition sources to keep fires from starting (distinct from an EAP).
- PASS
- The fire extinguisher technique: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.
- Class A extinguisher
- For ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, and cloth.
- Class B extinguisher
- For flammable liquids and gases such as gasoline, oil, and solvents.
- Class C extinguisher
- For fires in energized electrical equipment.
- Class D extinguisher
- For combustible metals such as magnesium and titanium.
- Class K extinguisher
- For cooking oils and fats, used in commercial kitchens.
- Evacuation procedures
- The part of an EAP describing how and where workers exit and how they are accounted for after leaving the building.
- Exit sign
- An adequately lit, marked sign that identifies an exit route; a burned-out exit sign violates exit-route requirements.
- Lockout/tagout (LOTO)
- The control of hazardous energy: isolating, locking, and verifying zero energy before servicing equipment so it cannot start unexpectedly.
- Personal lock (LOTO)
- Each authorized worker's own lock on the energy-isolation device; the machine cannot be re-energized until every worker removes their own lock.
- Energy-isolation device
- A device (such as a disconnect or valve) that physically blocks the transmission or release of energy, secured during lockout/tagout.
- Zero energy state
- The verified condition in which all hazardous energy has been isolated and released before maintenance begins.
- Permit-required confined space
- A space large enough to enter, with limited entry/exit, not designed for continuous occupancy, that holds a serious hazard like a dangerous atmosphere.
- Atmospheric testing
- Testing a confined space for oxygen level, flammable gases, and toxic gases before and during entry.
- Confined space attendant
- A worker stationed outside who monitors entrants and summons rescue without entering, so they do not become a victim themselves.
- Oxygen-deficient atmosphere
- Air with too little oxygen to support life; a leading killer in confined spaces and a reason atmospheres are tested before entry.
- Machine guarding
- Barriers and devices that keep a worker's body out of dangerous machine areas to prevent amputations and lacerations.
- Point of operation
- The area of a machine where it actually cuts, shapes, or forms material; guarding here prevents contact with the cutting action.
- Nip point
- An in-running area where two rotating parts (or a rotating and stationary part) meet and can catch and pull in a hand, clothing, or hair.
- Universal precautions
- Treating all human blood and certain body fluids as if they are infectious, regardless of the source person's apparent health.
- Bloodborne pathogens
- Infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease; controlled with universal precautions and engineered sharps protections.
- Sharps container
- A puncture-resistant container for disposing of used needles and other sharps to prevent needlestick injuries.
- Needlestick response
- After a stick: wash the area, report the exposure, and seek medical follow-up; never recap needles by hand or place them in regular trash.
- Ergonomics
- Fitting the task to the worker to reduce musculoskeletal disorders by limiting awkward postures, repetitive motion, and overhead reaching.
- Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD)
- An injury to muscles, nerves, tendons, or joints from strain, awkward postures, or repetitive motion; reduced by ergonomic controls.
- Lift assist
- An ergonomic device or method (or positioning items at waist height) that reduces bending and reaching to lower lifting strain.
- Materials handling and storage
- Stacking and securing loads so they are stable and will not slide, fall, or collapse; a key control for struck-by and caught-in injuries.
- Incompatible chemical storage
- Separating chemicals that react dangerously together — for example, keeping oxidizers away from flammables — to prevent fires and reactions.
- Hazardous materials
- Substances that pose physical or health hazards; controlled through labeling, separation of incompatibles, and proper storage and handling.
- Hazardous energy
- Stored or live energy (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal) that lockout/tagout controls during servicing.